Process of forming flotant metal powders



- JOHN R. CAIN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF CbLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE RICHARD- Patented ar. 3, 1931 SON QOMPANY, F LOCKLAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO r'nocnss or FORMING :sno'rnnr METAL rownms Ito Drawing.

My invention relates to processes of forming metal powders which can be used Without Which can be electroplated upon, then removed and further treated, if necessary, producing very thin foils in a very inexpensive manner.

It is the object of my invention to provide a metal powder having the required characteristics of being flotant upon an electrolyte.

I find that by proceeding according to my invention a'powder is produced which will a not only itself float, but when used on an electrolyte in which the original powder has the characteristic of replacing themetal in the salt of the electrolyte used, the replaced metal will be found to float on the surface in the place of the original powder laid thereon.

I first prepare a powder of the desired metal or mixed metals and keep it clean and dry. I then moisten the powder with benzol using no more than enough to be assimilated with the powder, (for purposes of economy.)

The next operation is to dry the metal powder which is done at a temperature keptlow enough to prevent an oxidization of the V metal.

The resultant product, with the benzol evaporated off will be found to possess the desired characteristics and will float on the usual electrolytes used in plating the metal in question. a

The floating characteristic w1ll be found to be quite permanent and an acid cleaning treatment of the powder will not destroy the floating characteristic. 1

If for example, I produce an iron powder with the benzol treatment and drying as noted, and then deposit itlupon a co per electrolyte, I find that the iron rapi y \lisap Application filed Hay 8, 1926. Serial No. 106,536.

pears and the copper forms in its place. This powder when lifted ofl and dried in a gentle heat will be found to retain its floating characteristics for a considerable period.

I have already noted one method of use of my novel powders namely, forming a foil by electrolytic action. While not'the basis of this invention, I may state that with a proper aqueous electrolyte, preferably of acid or neutral character, and an anode of suitable character for plating out of the said electrolyte, the operator may form an excellent foil of copper, for example, quite rapidly and continuously by applying a'direct or unidirectional current to the anode and to the floatin film-as a cathode. .The current found useful by me will be around one to two amperes per square inch of the floating film, with voltages from two volts and upwardly.

Also by depositing the metal powder on an aqueous surface'and passing through the resulting film a body'which has an adhesive surface, of water repellent nature, I find that a metallic film of-very' thin character and even distribution can be formed on the said body. By referring to floating metal powders I refer to powders which will float on a 1i uid of less specific gravity.

- aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: q

1 That. process 'of producing floating metal powders which .consists in treating a uid, and then evaporating ofi the liquid, then depositing the powder on a water solution of salt of a metal, which the powder in question der of a metal which consists in formmga dry powdered metal 'with a volatile'oily liqwater solution of a salt of the said metal, and p then depositing on the surface of the said solution a floating powder of a metal which will replace the said metal in said salt, thereby forming a floating powder of the metal in.

said salton the surface of said solution.

JOHN R. GAIN. 

